What is Spark the Electric Jester 3?

If the Blue Blur inspired any indie series, the Spark the Electric Jester franchise looks to ageless blue skies proudly. From the fantastic original 2D adventure that combined the best elements from iconic titles, to a shockingly polished leap into 3D with a sequel featuring a robotic double, the franchise evolved rapidly.

With the third installment, the series takes the best from its past, while doing some interesting original things of its own. Releasing on Steam in 2022 to critical acclaim, the speedy 3D platformer arrived on Switch in 2024. Does it hold up on Nintendo’s hybrid handheld? Or does it crash in a static cling? After playing through the adventure on Switch 2, I’m impressed to the point that even the Blue Blur should take a few lightning notes.

Publisher/Developer: Feperd Games/FreakZone Games
Release Date: July 25, 2024 (Switch), August 14, 2022 (PC)
Price: $24.99
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 via SW1 BC, PC (Steam)
Reviewed On: Nintendo Switch 2 via SW1 BC

A Bolt – Premise of Spark 3

After speeding down a highway in a high-speed car, Spark speeds into action to stop the Fark Force. This group, led by Spark’s robotic rival Fark, is seemingly causing issues for Spark’s home. He’s still annoyed at his job being taken from the robotic double since Spark 1, too.

But as the story progresses, all isn’t as it seems. So while the journey to the end isn’t particularly memorable, the conclusion is heartfelt and rewarding. If you played prior games in the series specifically, the impact of the game’s final section hits particularly hard.

So while the overall narrative isn’t anything to write home about, it’s engaging enough to give players a reason to root for Spark on his quest. Specifically, what the narrative does with Fark. Spark’s robotic rival isn’t just a Metal Sonic-like copy of the Hero. He, in many regards, is the Shadow to Spark’s Sonic.

Gotta Go Fast – Platforming Gameplay

The star of the show is the gameplay of Spark 3. Taking direct inspiration from the Sonic Adventure series, Spark runs and jumps his way through levels similar to the Blue Blur’s Dreamcast days, having a steady sense of momentum and weight to his movement.

Running down an incline, for example, increases Spark’s speed immensely. But if there aren’t hills, the jester has a charged and basic dash to keep the pace going. Skillfully using his speed is key to nailing those tricky jumps across massive gaps between platforms and finding out-of-reach collection metals.

Alongside his default running abilities, Spark can wall jump and even run across walls by holding the Dash button. Early on, these basic abilities aren’t needed, but by the game’s final stretch of levels, you are pushed into mastering all these mechanics.

The new mechanic for Spark 3 is rail grinding. It controls like a combination of the momenta-based rail grinding from Sonic Adventure 2 with the ease of switching between rails from Shadow the Hedgehog (2005). It’s used well in the game stages, and I loved the sense of earned speed it offered.

So many times during my adventure, I used my speed and platforming skills in ways that even Sonic Adventure 2 or Sonic Unleashed never tested me. In many ways, the speed-based platforming of Spark 3 is the ‘final evolution’ of the Sonic Adventure formula.

Put ‘Em Up – Combat Encounters

But running and jumping isn’t all Spark can do. He can also fight like the best of them, using a mixture of light and heavy attacks. His combo pool isn’t that deep, but combining his basic combos with careful blocking/parrying results in engaging combat encounters throughout the adventure.

Spark can also purchase a set of combat skills from the shop, like increasing his attack power for a short while or shooting a surge of projectiles. These are used via the D-Pad (or by holding down the ZL button and pressing the correct shortcut button).

But the best combat skills are a set of Jester Forms. These are costumes and characters Spark can turn into, though the selection is more limited, unlike Spark 2‘s wide variety of Jester forms. The lack of variety isn’t an issue, though, since Spark’s default combat abilities feel great to utilize.

Lighting Reflexes – Controls of Spark 3

However, the platforming and combat wouldn’t work nearly as well as they do if the controls weren’t good. Thankfully, Spark 3’s controls are tight and responsive, even on Nintendo Switch.

Moving around with the left stick feels great, responding to every minute stick input. This extends to Spark’s other skills, like his jumping, wall-running, and more.

His other abilities, like the Charged Dash and Sonic Unleashed-esque Stomp move, work great too, triggered by holding ZL and pressing the right face button. Overall, the core controls of Spark 3 are a great refinement to the work Feperd Games did with Spark 2.

A World Adventure – Progression

The adventure of Spark 3 takes place across seven major locations, each one having several levels to run through before fighting the area’s boss and moving on.

Most levels involve the strong core platforming, though others mix things up in fun ways. Some levels have Spark run through an area to collect a set of 10 medals, with each one emitting a pillar of light, making them easy to find. Meanwhile, some are speed-based, with Spark reaching the level goal in a time limit.

And to my surprise, some levels have Spark using vehicles, like a sports car or a flying hovercraft. These genre mix-ups remind me of what Sonic Adventure 2 did for some of the non-Sonic & Shadow stages, but since they are so infrequent, they complement the experience better than what that game did for its Mech & Treasure Hunting stages.

Completing all these levels unlocks Freedom Metals. These unlock access to new major locations on the world map. In addition, speeding through stages and getting the highest scores unlocks metals linked to both. All these metals are important, tied directly to Spark 3‘s greatest accomplishment.

The Final Horizon – The Last Level

The final level of Spark 3 is called Utopia Shelter. This level functions differently compared to the rest of the game. While the game has a very generous instant restart option, Utopia Shelter has a Lives Mechanic. And the amount of Freedom, Score, Collection, and Speed Metals is directly linked to how many Lives you have for this stage.

And you’ll need every single one of those lives. This is a massive gauntlet of a stage, taking well over 30 minutes to complete on a first run. It’s Spark 3‘s take on Sonic Unleashed’s Eggmanland, in many regards, pushing all the game’s core mechanics to their utter limits.

Mastering the tight platforming across bottomless pits, switching rails at the perfect moment, avoiding taking too much damage from enemies you come across, knowing which ones you can homing attack without getting hurt… These are just some of the things you need to be mindful of.

And I loved every second of tackling this behemoth of a platforming challenge. The final stretch, where I tensely leaned into my Switch 2 screen, scared to even move the left stick a little during a downhill run, then masterfully leaping across a huge chasm, I couldn’t help but smile.

As someone who loves 3D Sonic immensely, this level is everything I could ask for. And as a fan of Spark 2 after playing through it on Xbox One, seeing that formula reach its apex point in this final level of the Spark series was a joy to experience.

Revisiting the Past – Post Game Content

Finishing the final level and beating the final bosses unlocks several pieces of content to experience. Firstly, all the stages from Spark 2 are now playable. So if you played that game already, you can enjoy Spark 3’s refined gameplay mechanics in those older levels. But if you never played Spark 2 before, that’s literally an entire game’s worth of levels to speed through.

Secondly, new playable characters can be purchased, and they are awesome inclusions. More so after getting a taste of them during the game’s final stretch.

And lastly, there’s a challenge mode, where Spark can fight and speed his way through seemingly endless floors. Completing that challenge grants access to a new boss encounter as well.

All of this combined easily adds another few hours to the Spark 3 adventure. While all of this was part of a post-launch free update for the PC version, this was a wonderful addition for the Switch release.

A Shocking Storm – Performance on Switch 2

When it was originally released on Nintendo Switch, it was an ambitious port by FreakZone Games. Taking the high-speed action from the PC release and bringing that to the weaker Nintendo Switch was a challenging project. And considering SEGA’s own efforts in bringing speedy adventures to Nintendo’s handheld, performance issues are expected.

Impressively, Spark 3 was solid on Nintendo Switch, despite some frame-rate and resolution drops. And Nintendo Switch 2 cleans it all up, maintaining a locked 30 FPS while hitting its max resolution target. In addition, playing Spark 3 in Switch 2’s handheld boost mode, the game’s resolution mostly stays at 720p or higher, and the frame rate never goes below 30 FPS.

Stylish Lightning – Presentation

Maintaining the game’s visual identity from the PC release, Spark the Eletric Jester 3 on Nintendo Switch looks great. Featuring a simple cell-shaded style, Spark and company pop off the Switch and Switch 2. From colorful cities near a mountainside, rail grinding down canyons, and running through a space itself, the variety of locations in Spark 3 stands out.

And the animation work on Spark and other major characters is a highlight, with little details I appreciated. Seeing Spark’s clothing move dynamically while running and the explosive effects of his lightning powers, for example, help sell the coolness of his character.

The enemies Spark fights also stand out, having simple designs but never blending into the stages he speeds through. They can range from simple cube and circle-shaped baddies that can be killed with a homing dash to Spark-sized robots that put up a tougher fight.

Note for Note – Music/Audio

It wouldn’t be a speedy platformer without a killer soundtrack. And between the original tracks for the Spark 3 stages, returning tracks from Spark 2, and loving callbacks to the original Spark, it’s a jamming collection of music to run alongside.

My favorite tracks have to be the hype vocal theme of Spark 2’s ‘Special Boss’ theme for Throwback, the moody tracks from Utopia Shelter, and the somber theme of Historia Hysteria. This effective soundtrack is supported by solid sound design, with every attack and move from Spark complementing the jamin’ melodies.

Accessibility Options

While the game doesn’t have any major accessibility settings, Spark 3 does feature a difficulty setting that’s linked to combat encounters. So if you want to have an easier time fighting, the game can make those encounters a little easier.

Also worth noting is that the game clearly explains the controls for platforming, combat, and special abilities, dynamically showing them as Spark runs through the stages.

Closing Thoughts on Spark the Electric Jester 3

As someone who has been following this Feperd Game’s work over the years, it’s beautiful to see the evolution of Spark as a series. Originating as a simple ability that Sonic utilized in Sonic After the Sequel, evolving into the unique speedy platformer of Spark 1, and making the successful grand leap into 3D with Spark 2, it’s amazing seeing the quality on display in Spark the Electric Jester 3.

It’s a master class in speedy 3D platforming, taking the best elements from Sonic’s past and combining them with fresh ideas and concepts. And with the game feeling great to play on both Nintendo Switch platforms, Spark 3 is a speedy adventure I can easily recommend to anyone who loves running under sparkly blue skies.

Score: 9 out of 10

This game was purchased by the reviewer for this review.

Pros:

• Tight platforming mechanics.
• Great level design.
• Challenging, but rewarding, final level.
• Extensive post-game content.
• Fun combat to engage with.
• Strong presentation and musical score.
• Stable performance on Switch 2.

Cons:

• Some visual concessions running on Switch 1
• Resolution drops on Switch 1